Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Barkley says he won't retire, will remain with TNT

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Tuesday, 06 August 2024 11:34

Charles Barkley intends to remain with TNT Sports through the remainder of his contract.

The Hall of Fame player announced Tuesday that he will not retire next season, reversing the announcement he made in June during the NBA Finals.

Barkley said at the time that the 2024-25 season would be his last on television no matter what eventually happened with the NBA's media deal negotiations. He signed a 10-year contract extension with TNT Sports in 2022.

Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports, has sued the NBA in New York state court after the league did not accept the company's matching offer for one of the packages in its new 11-year media rights deal, which will begin with the 2025-26 season.

"I love my TNT Sports family. My No. 1 priority has been and always will be our people and keeping everyone together for as long as possible," Barkley said in a statement. "... I'm looking forward to continuing to work with them both on the shows we currently have and new ones we develop together in the future.

"This is the only place for me. I have to say ... I've been impressed by the leadership team who is fighting hard and have been aggressive in adding new properties to TNT Sports, which I am very excited about. ... I'm going to give my all as we keep [fans] entertained for years to come."

ESPN/ABC, NBC and Amazon Prime Video were expected to try to court Barkley before Tuesday's announcement. "Inside the NBA" host Ernie Johnson has also said he intends to remain with TNT, but the futures of Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith remain uncertain.

Barkley joined TNT in 2000 and has been a part of the iconic "Inside the NBA" show, which has won 21 Sports Emmy Awards and has been a model for studio shows. Barkley took home his fifth Sports Emmy for Outstanding Studio Analyst in May.

What Barkley's future looks like if TNT does not have the NBA remains to be seen. Turner has had an NBA package since 1984, and games have been on TNT since the network launched in 1988.

However, the relationship started to become strained when Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said during an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022 that Turner and WBD "don't have to have the NBA."

TNT Sports also carries the NHL and NCAA men's basketball tournament with CBS. It recently has added the College Football Playoff, Big East basketball, NASCAR and the French Open.

"Charles is one of the best and most beloved sportscasters in the history of television," TNT Sports chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser said in a statement. "I know I speak for all the members of the TNT Sports family when I say we are incredibly thrilled to share this mutual commitment to continue showcasing Charles' one-of-a-kind talents and entertain fans well into the future."

Barkley was the co-host of "King Charles," a weekly talk show on CNN with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King, but the limited-run series ended in April after six months.

Read 91 times

Soccer

Amorim refuses to rule out Garnacho departure

Amorim refuses to rule out Garnacho departure

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRuben Amorim has refused to rule out the possibility that Alejandro...

Wrexham settle for draw in 'Hollywood derby'

Wrexham settle for draw in 'Hollywood derby'

Wrexham were forced to settle for a point from their clash with League One leaders Birmingham City o...

Ruben Amorim's Manchester United are enduring a roller-coaster season

Ruben Amorim's Manchester United are enduring a roller-coaster season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMANCHESTER, England -- Among the songs at the end of Manchester Uni...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Wemby puts on 'great' show for Paris crowd in win

Wemby puts on 'great' show for Paris crowd in win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPARIS -- The first enormous roar from the crowd came before the gam...

LeBron, top vote-getter Giannis lead ASG starters

LeBron, top vote-getter Giannis lead ASG starters

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLeBron James extended his record to 21 All-Star selections Thursday...

Baseball

Ichiro wants to have drink with lone HOF holdout

Ichiro wants to have drink with lone HOF holdout

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCOOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Ichiro Suzuki wants to raise a glass with the...

Braves sign outfielder Profar to 3-year, $42M deal

Braves sign outfielder Profar to 3-year, $42M deal

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOutfielder Jurickson Profar and the Atlanta Braves agreed on a thre...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: info@idig.com

Affiliated